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SPA is proud to host the 20th
Anniversary Reception of the
American Board of
Assessment Psychology
An Invitation from the SPA President
Welcome!
On behalf of the SPA Board of Trustees, I extend a warm invitation to you to attend our Annual Convention
and Workshops, March 19-23, 2014, at the Westin Arlington Gateway in Arlington, VA. The
theme for this year’s meeting is “Evolution and Revolution in Personality Assessment.” President-Elect
and Program Chair, Robert F. Bornstein; Continuing Education (CE) Chair, John Porcerelli; and the
CE Committee have organized an excellent program of workshops, scientific/research presentations,
clinical case discussions, and posters that will be presented during the Convention.
Master Lectures by leading researchers and thinkers in their fields are always a high point of the Convention.
We are delighted to announce that Aaron L. Pincus and Leslie C. Morey, both of whom are
members of SPA, will give the Master Lectures this year. Dr. Pincus will present research, theoretical,
and clinical material illustrating new developments in the assessment of interpersonal functioning and
dynamics and the implications these developments have for clinical science and practice. The title of
Dr. Morey’s Master Lecture is “ The DSM-5 and Personality Disorders: Observations on Process and
Content.” This is a timely topic, particularly given the heated debates over the past several years the
DSM-5 has been in development and with its recent release.
One reason for you to come to the SPA Convention is to take advantage of the opportunities to learn
about the latest developments, research findings, and controversies about a wide range of topics of
interest to personality assessment psychologists. Attendees will be able to follow “tracks” in Forensic
(FO), Collaborative/Therapeutic (C/T), Child/Adolescent (C/A), and Analytic (AN) assessment
approaches as well as Training/Supervision (T/S); there will also be a specific Proficiency (P) track
identifying training sessions that meet the criteria for personality assessment proficiency development
and certification. Interest group meetings afford a means for attendees to exchange ideas about shared
interests and questions in an informal, relaxed setting. Training sessions and social events specifically
geared toward graduate students will also be offered, organized by SPAGS, the student branch of SPA.
Another reason many of us keep coming to the SPA meetings is the opportunity to talk, debate, and
bounce ideas off like-minded colleagues, to socialize (i.e., break bread and share a drink) with our SPA
friends, and to have the opportunity to make new connections. I’m very pleased that over the years
international members have attended the Annual Conventions regularly which gives us the chance to
learn about the practices and challenges they face in their countries and to connect over our shared
assessment interests and passions. I look forward to seeing the number of international members who
attend the SPA Annual Convention increase this year, the year after, the year after that...
Please - do come to the 2014 SPA Annual Convention in Arlington, in close proximity to Washington,
D.C., to learn, share, mingle, and laugh (and to practice your English, Spanish, Italian, French, Japanese,
etc.). I invite you all to attend the President’s Reception as the Convention gets underway. Go
to SPA’s website (www.personality.org) to register for the Convention promptly, to take advantage of
the early registration rate, and to ensure a seat at your preferred workshops. Also, plan to make your
hotel reservations soon to secure a room in the discounted block we have secured for meeting attendees.
The draft Program Book will be posted on our website in January; attendees will receive a hard copy
of the detailed Program Book at the Convention. I am looking forward to seeing you this March and
learning together about the most recent steps in the evolution of personality assessment!
SPA Board
of Trustees
Ronald J. Ganellen
President
Robert F. Bornstein
President-Elect
Radhika Krishnamurthy
Past President
Giselle Hass
Secretary
John L. McNulty
Treasurer
Diane H. Engelman
Representative-at-Large
Leslie C. Morey
Representative-at-Large
Carol Groves Overton
Representative-at-Large
John Porcerelli
Representative-at-Large
Steven K. Huprich
JPA Editor
Jed A. Yalof
SPA Exchange Editor
J. D. Smith
Website Editor
Bruce L. Smith
Public Affairs Director
Mark A. Blais
Proficiency Coordinator
Virginia M. Brabender
BEA Liaison
Christy Denckla
President, SPAGS
Program
Committee
Robert F. Bornstein
Program Chair
Radhika Krishnamurthy
Ronald J. Ganellen, Ph.D.
President, SPA Board of Trustees
Virginia M. Brabender
Bruce L. Smith